SAP Concur has published UK survey findings showing that 75% of business travellers use or would use unapproved AI tools for work travel. The research also found that all chief financial officers surveyed were concerned about the effect of shadow AI on data security and compliance.

The figures point to a gap between company policy and how staff arrange, manage and report business trips. The issue is not limited to deliberate rule-breaking: 32% of travellers said they turn to unapproved tools because their employer does not provide official AI options for planning or booking travel.

The study suggests AI is already widespread in travel workflows. Almost four in five respondents, or 79%, said they had used AI-powered tools to support some part of a business trip.

Among the most common uses, 37% said they used AI to plan a trip agenda. Another 30% used it to track expenses during a trip, while 26% used it to assess travel risks.

Around 24% said they used AI tools to rebook or make changes to a trip, and the same share used them to curate travel options during booking. A further 21% said they used such tools to complete an expense report after the trip.

Who is using it

The survey found clear differences across age groups. Openness to using shadow AI was highest among Gen Z travellers at 79% and Millennials at 76%, before dropping to 62% among Gen X and 49% among Boomers.

Working patterns also appeared to influence behaviour. Remote workers were more likely to say they would use unapproved AI tools, at 81%, compared with 71% of fully on-site employees.

International travel was another dividing line. Three quarters of those who travel abroad for work said they have used or would use shadow AI tools, compared with 63% of domestic business travellers.

Availability appears to be only part of the issue. SAP Concur found that 43% of respondents preferred tools other than those approved by their employer, suggesting staff often see consumer AI products as more useful or easier to access than official systems.

Governance concerns

For finance leaders, the spread of unapproved tools raises concerns about oversight of spending, personal data and links to internal systems. All chief financial officers surveyed said they were worried about shadow AI in business travel, reflecting how closely travel booking and expense management sit to finance controls.

Paul Dear, vice president, Concur Travel EMEA at SAP Concur, said the pattern showed a broader management problem rather than an isolated technology issue.

“It’s a huge worry for business leaders. 100% of CFOs say they’re concerned by shadow AI in business travel,” said Paul Dear, vice president, Concur Travel EMEA at SAP Concur.

He warned about the risks created when workers rely on systems outside approved company processes.

“As consumer AI tools proliferate, they open the door for employees to use unsanctioned systems for booking or planning business travel. Unfortunately, this shadow AI can create security risks, particularly when employees input sensitive data or connect business systems to unauthorised software. Leaders must educate workers on the risks and provide T&E tools that deliver the desired level of AI support,” Dear said.

What staff want

The survey also explored the AI features employees want in work travel tools. The most common request, cited by 38% of respondents, was for AI integrations in other parts of the workflow, such as presentation software and calendars.

Another 36% said they wanted AI embedded in communication software including Teams and Slack. Some 32% wanted integrations in role-specific tools such as customer relationship management systems.

Proactive prompts were also in demand. Nearly a third, or 31%, said they wanted AI that notifies them to book through alerts or reminders, while 30% wanted chatbot interfaces within existing booking tools.

Taken together, the findings suggest companies face a practical challenge as they try to impose governance on AI use in travel. Employees are already using AI for booking, risk checks and expenses, but many appear willing to do so outside approved channels when official tools are missing or fail to meet their needs.

For travel and finance teams, that leaves a choice between tighter enforcement and broader adoption of sanctioned tools that fit into the systems employees already use. In the survey, 38% of employees said they wanted AI integrations in other parts of the workflow, and 36% wanted AI embedded in communication software.

Chameleon Technology has launched the IHD7-VWAN for the UK government’s Virtual Wide Area Network initiative. The device is intended for homes that have struggled to connect to smart metering services.

The launch follows the introduction of VWAN, a scheme developed with the Data Communications Company to address connectivity gaps in properties that cannot reliably send or receive traditional smart meter signals.

The new in-home display uses a household’s Wi-Fi connection, with the consumer’s consent, to help pass smart meter data to the Data Communications Company. It creates two Wi-Fi connections: one for a secure tunnel carrying smart meter data to the DCC, and another linking to Chameleon’s cloud systems for product support.

The approach is aimed at so-called black spots, where connectivity problems have left some households unable to use smart metering. Information released alongside the launch said the wider VWAN initiative could support smart metering in up to 350,000 hard-to-connect homes.

That figure underlines a persistent issue in the UK’s smart meter rollout. Geography, building type and local signal conditions have prevented some properties from maintaining the communications link needed for meter data to flow through the national network. VWAN is intended to provide another route by relying on home broadband rather than traditional communications paths.

For Chameleon, the new product extends its existing role in the in-home display market. More than 12 million of its displays are already installed in homes across Great Britain, while its wider customer base reaches more than 20 million people.

The IHD7-VWAN combines several functions in one unit, including consumer access device services, prepayment functionality and the new Virtual Wide Area Network connection. This integrated design is intended to reduce operational complexity for energy suppliers while giving more options to households that have previously been left outside the smart metering system.

Connectivity gap

The challenge addressed by VWAN has been a long-running one for the energy sector. Smart meters rely on communications links to send readings and other information through the Data Communications Company, which acts as the national data network for Britain’s smart meter system. In homes where that connection is weak or unavailable, meters may lose smart functions or may not be installed with full functionality at all.

Using in-home displays as part of the communications route marks a different approach. Rather than depending solely on external signal reach, the VWAN model uses the household’s own Wi-Fi network to bridge the gap. That means consumer consent is part of the process, because the connection uses the home internet service to support meter communications.

Rollout support

Chameleon said it supports the staged rollout of the VWAN programme. The Harrogate-based company also has operations in France and Hong Kong, and focuses on devices and data services linked to energy use in homes and businesses.

Kyle Brown commented on the product launch as the wider initiative begins to take shape. “The Virtual Wide Area Network is a vital development for smart meter connectivity, and the launch of our IHD7-VWAN demonstrates Chameleon’s commitment to supporting this next phase of the rollout. We are continually pushing to help bring the benefits of smart metering to as many homes as possible and feel very proud to be working with the energy industry and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero to continue helping the industry overcome connectivity challenges. Chameleon is leading the way in enabling a more connected, data-driven home energy ecosystem,” said Brown, Chief Commercial Officer, Chameleon Technology.

The introduction of VWAN adds another layer to efforts to complete smart meter coverage across Britain, particularly in areas where the existing network has proved difficult to extend. The remaining gap, affecting up to 350,000 homes, suggests the issue remains significant for suppliers and policymakers seeking wider smart meter adoption.

Chameleon’s device enters this part of the market with a design tailored to the new framework set by government and the Data Communications Company, linking a familiar household energy display to a new communications function for homes that have remained outside the reach of standard smart meter signals.

Peak traffic on Hyperoptic’s broadband network rose by about 10% during the opening match of this summer’s major international football tournament. Most viewers also expect to watch the tournament from home.

Demand peaked at about 9:15pm during the opening fixture, around 30 minutes later than the usual evening high point. Hyperoptic said its normal peak typically falls between 9pm and 10pm.

Research commissioned by the provider found that 60% of UK adults with home broadband plan to watch the tournament. Among those viewers, 86% expect to watch most matches from home rather than elsewhere.

The findings highlight the strain major live sport can place on household connections when several activities are running at once. During major live sporting events at home, an average of 2.7 internet-connected devices are in use in the household at the same time, according to the survey.

A sizeable minority of viewers said technical problems can spoil the experience. Some 29% of UK adults with home broadband said buffering during a goal, penalty or other key moment would be one of the most frustrating things to happen during a major match, while 11% said they had already missed an important sporting moment because of buffering, lag or connection issues.

The study also suggested that delays in live streams can leave viewers exposed to spoilers before the action appears on screen. Around three in five football viewers said they had found out about a goal or other key sporting moment before seeing it themselves.

Second screens

The survey suggests that watching football at home often involves several screens at once. A third of football viewers said they message friends or family while watching live football, while 29% said they scroll social media during matches.

That second-screen habit can add another source of frustration for viewers whose streams lag behind live play. Fans checking messages or social platforms may learn about decisive moments before the broadcast catches up.

Hyperoptic, which focuses on full-fibre broadband in urban areas, said the opening fixture offered an early sign of how the tournament is affecting evening traffic patterns, with network demand rising as millions of fans watched from home.

Mark Bartlett, Chief Operating Officer at Hyperoptic, commented on the viewing patterns and their effect on home internet use.

“This summer is a big moment for football, and millions of people will be watching, reacting and connecting at the same time. With so many fans planning to watch from home, broadband is a central part of the matchday experience. A delayed stream, frozen picture or spoiler can take fans out of the moment in seconds.

“For households watching live sport, a few simple steps can make a real difference to the viewing experience. Streaming over a reliable Wi-Fi connection, avoiding large downloads during key matches and being mindful of how many devices are using bandwidth at the same time can all help reduce the risk of buffering or delays,” Bartlett said.

The research was based on a survey of 2,000 UK adults with home broadband. Unless otherwise stated, the figures refer to that group, with some results drawn from subgroups including football viewers and people planning to watch the tournament.

Hyperoptic said its network now passes more than 1.9 million homes and that it has more than 400,000 customers across 64 towns and cities in the UK. Its figures suggest that major live sports events can shift both the scale and timing of broadband demand as households stream, message and browse at the same time.

For broadband providers, that pattern matters because the pressure comes not only from viewers watching the same event simultaneously, but also from the cluster of digital activity around it. The survey findings suggest that the modern match experience at home includes streaming, social media use and messaging alongside the live broadcast.

With most tournament viewers planning to stay on the sofa for most matches, the home internet connection has become a bigger part of how audiences experience major football events. Around three in five football viewers said they had found out about a goal or key sporting moment before seeing it on their own screen.